Senate Passes Bill Protecting Reporters And Their Sources

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday advanced a bill to shield reporters from being forced to reveal their sources in federal court, setting up a floor fight between supporters and Bush administration allies who believe the measure would harm national security.

The 15-2 vote sent the legislation to the Senate floor, where it was expected to face more challenges if not efforts to stall or kill it. The Bush administration, whose allies on the matter include U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, opposes the measure on grounds it would make it harder to trace the source of leaks that could harm national security.

Fitzgerald subpoenaed reporters to testify against White House aide I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby in a case that grew out of Fitzgerald’s CIA leak probe. Libby was convicted of obstruction, perjury and lying to the FBI; his sentence was commuted by President Bush. Advocates for the shield law include House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who gave the bill a boost during a speech Thursday to the Associated Press Managing Editors.

More than 50 news outlets, including the AP, also support the bill. In an opinion piece for the Washington Post, former Bush administration solicitor general Theodore B. Olson argued for the proposed federal law, saying state shield laws have worked well. The bill includes exemptions for cases in which investigators are tracking acts of terrorism in the U.S. and other countries. An amendment by Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., would keep accused spies, agents of foreign countries and terrorists from claiming the same protections extended to journalists.

By LAURIE KELLMAN Associated Press Writer

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)